GOLF CLASSIC: With now just over three weeks to go Club Treasurer, Nial Shanahan and his dedicated group of helpers have been working hard over the past few weeks in preparation for our Golf Classic which take place on Friday April 5th at the world renowned Arnold Palmer designed Tralee Golf Course, a unique combination of traditional seaside golf links and world famous scenery.
The event is a 4 person team stableford with 2 scores to count on each hole. There are at least five team prizes, longest drive and nearest the pin.
On arrival tea / coffee will be available. On completion of your round a 3 course meal will be served in the clubhouse. The cost per team is €500 (inc meal) and sponsorship of a tee box costs €100.
Presentation of prizes will take place in Austin Stacks Clubhouse in Connolly Park on the same evening at 9pm followed by a raffle for valuable spot prizes and light entertainment.
The golf classic forms an essential part of the annual fundraising events at the club, and allows us field over 20 teams each week, ranging from juvenile up to adult in Gaelic Football, Hurling and Ladies Football.
Your support/sponsorship for this event would be greatly appreciated. To reserve your tee -time who may call or text Nial on 087 2801634.
SENIOR FOOTBALL: Austin Stacks 0-9; Kilcummin 1-11.
In this opening round of the Co. League played in Connolly Park yesterday afternoon Kilcummin played into a gale force, hail-ridden wind in the first half and couldn’t have got off to a better start with a point from play in the opening minute and a goal from a penalty a minute later.
We opened our account in the 3rd minute with a point from play by Darragh O’Brien. With the elements in total control it took another 12 minutes before the next score came – another Darragh O’Brien point, this time from a free after Joseph O’Connor was fouled. But Kilcummin restored their early four points lead when they put over two in the 20th and 21st minutes.
But our boys finished the half the stronger, scoring five unanswered points in the closing eight minute – three pointed frees by Darragh O’Brien and two super efforts from distance by team captain, Conor Jordan. This left us with a one point lead at the break (0-7 to 1-3).
Now we were facing the elements in the second half and after just two minutes had extended our lead to two with another Darragh O’Brien pointed free. But from then on Kilcummin proved that they are not All Ireland Club Champions for nothing as they totally dominated the rest of the game.
We could only muster one more point for the remainder of the game – a well-taken point by Dylan Casey from play. In the meantime Kilcummin put over eight during this half – four from play and four from frees to give them the perfect start to their campaign.
So of the five games played in the opening round (the Rathmore .v. Dr. Crokes game has been re-fixed) we were the only home side to taste defeat – with wins for An Ghaeltacht, Kerins O’Rahillys, Legion and Templenoe in the other four games.
Team: Robbie Murphy, Colin Griffin, Dylan Casey (0-1), John Dennis, Jack O’Shea, Ronan Shanahan, Jack Morgan, Joseph O’Connor, Conor Jordan (Capt) (0-2), Michael O’Gara, Shane Carroll, Greg Horan, Darragh O’Brien (0-6 – 5 frees), Gearóid Fitzgerald, Shane O’Callaghan.
Subs used: Ciarán O’Reilly ht), Pa McCarthy (41m), Fergal Ryan (53m) (1-0), Barry Shanahan (57m).
We are away to NaGaeil in round 2 of the League on the week-end after next.
CONGRATULATIONS: All in the Club and in the Football Squad in particular offer their congratulations and best wishes to current Club Footballer, Pa McCarthy and his girl-friend, Aoife Moore on their recent engagement.
And congratulations also to former Club Footballer, Seán Sugrue (son of John Joe) who is making headlines over in New York at present. Seánie and his friend, Bertie Brosnan have made a film which will premier in California on St. Patrick’s Day. Misty Button is the name of this humorous film about two Irish guys on a betting spree in New York. Well done lads and the best of luck with the venture.
B FOOTBALL; John Mitchels 0-4; Austin Stacks 4-17 (29).
Played on Mitchels home pitch on last Saturday evening (9th March) we had the ideal start to this season’s opener in Div. 5B of the Co. League with a 25 points win against, it has to be said, a Mitchels team who were missing many of their first choice players. We have to go back almost seven years and 104 games to find a bigger winning margin achieved by our B team (a 30 points win – again in the Co. League – against Milltown in June 2012).
All our lads were tuned in from the word go and found themselves with a score-line of 2-5 after twelve minute. The opposition’s first score came in the 16th minute but we finished the half the stronger and went in at half time with a lead of 3-8 to 0-3. Our three goals came from Fergal Ryan in the 3rd minute, Dean Scanlon the 7th and Dale Counihan with the last score of the half, just two minutes before the break.
The second half was all one way traffic with Fergal Ryan the scorer of our 4th goal and his second.
So a very good display on the day which will have pleased our Management Team of Paddy Barry, Eamonn O’Reilly, Kieran Kelliher and Kieran O’Callaghan no end.
Team: Seamus Bastible, Shane Kelliher, Denis Costello, John Murphy, Brandon Patterson (0-1), Barry Shanahan (0-1), Andrew Morrissey (Capt), David Fitzmaurice (0-1), Paul Barrett (0-1), Dale Counihan (1-1), Pa McCarthy (0-3), Eoghan Galvin (0-1), Fergal (2-1), Donagh McKivergan (0-1), Dean Scanlon (1-1).
Subs used: Ciarán O’Connell (17m), Paul Galvin (ht), Pádraig Looney (ht), Alan Duggan (ht) (0-3), Barry Walsh (39m), Rory Forbes (43m) (0-2).
In round 2 of the League on the week after next we have a home game against Beaufort.
MINOR FOOTBALL: Rathmore; 0-12; Austin Stacks 2-12.
Our thanks to Tim O’Rourke for the following comprehensive report.
Very hard fought win in a physical but entertaining game. Rathmore dominated the opening 10 mins with their two inside forwards causing big problems. Once Stacks pressed up on the kickouts they started to take over. A couple of well taken early scores by Conor Myers one from play the other from a free set the rock up to get back in the game.
Daniel O’Rourke was black carded on 17 mins for pulling down the Rathmore full forward preventing a clear goal chance for Rathmore as he raced back to tackle him after he slipped the defensive cover. Tom O Farrell replaced him.
This ignited the black and amber and their hunger and appetite for the ball and workrate displayed on tackling the Rathmore players to a man was their highest this season to date. Shane Bastible had a fine game working his socks off whilst constantly looking to get on the ball.
Armin Heinrich and Sean quilter both added points to leave the scores level at 4-4 when another Rathmore free edged the hosts a point up. Both sides traded scores when at 7pts a piece a Shane Bastible score got the Tralee lads into a 1 pt lead. Jordan kissane stepped up with 1-1 from play scoring a fine goal in the process in the space of 2 mins just before half time to put Stacks into 5 point lead at the break.
Rathmore started the second half with a point within 30 seconds before a Sean quilter free cancelled it out to keep the 5pt gap between the teams.
Stacks completely dominated the middle third for the remainder of the game with the defensive cover rock solid preventing any goals and pushing Rathmore back out the pitch time and time again. Some lovely football by stacks resulted in A penalty conceded by Rathmore for another clear pull down 8 mins into the second half.
Sean Quilter duly dispatched the spot kick which opened up an 8 pt lead leaving a long way back for Rathmore. Stacks did not score for the next 10 mins as they had to continue to work hard to keep Rathmore out. The hosts did tack on 2 late points to close the gap after points had been exchanged late in the half but it was not enough as Stacks played good possession based football to see the game out.
All players on the day were outstanding but the workrate and determination of Shane Bastible would have him my man of the match, although the returning Adam Curran also had a fine game and Conor Myers had his marker in trouble from the first to the last. Sean quilter was strong in the middle of the field winning several clean balls in the air to keep Stacks on the front foot throughout the game.
A good overall performance onto the Crokes now next weekend at home.
THANKS: The Club Executive wish to thank to Noel O’Connell & John Breen who look after our pitches in Connolly Park.
Despite 2 yellow weather warnings last weekend and gale force driving wind and rain on match day the lads pulled out all the stops to have the Nuns pitch in the best possible condition.
We rely so much on the co operation of all teams while we are reduced to just 1 pitch in Connolly Park so thanks to everyone for playing their part. Special shout out to our U14 boys who gave up their home advantage last Sunday morning at the request the Pitch Committee, now that’s a touch of class! (they still won 4-4 to St Pats 2-3) Well done boys.
CLUBHOUSE: As always the Clubhouse is available for all types of Parties and Functions. Enquiries about Club Bookings should be made by contacting Harry Hynes at 087 2467286.
CARDS: The 45 Card Sessions continue in the Clubhouse on every Monday and Thursday nights, commencing at 9.30pm each night.
LOTTO: Last week’s (4th March) Jackpot, worth €10,600, was not won. The numbers drawn were 5, 13, 22, 32.
The €20 winners were: Angela Horgan, Neman’a Brkovic and Kath Moriarty, all c/o Rock Street Post Office; Noel O’Connell, c/o Club Rockies and Martin Collins, c/o The Club.
LottoTickets are on regular sale at the Rock Street Post Office and at the Stacks Clubhouse, as well as from our other regular outlets.
SYMPATHY: Sincere sympathy is offered to the families of the following who died recently – Geraldine Lynch O’Leary, Meadowlands Estate (sister of Michael Lynch, former Club Footballer and Club Executive Member); Aidan Kennedy, Clontarf and formerly Tralee; Joan Bernie (nee O’Brien), Strand Street and Rhode Island (USA); Eddie (Edmond) Clifford, Balbriggan and formerly The Kerries; David Fitzgerald, Clonmore Grove; Frank Sayers, Derryquay (husband of Maureen and brother-in-law of former Club Hurlers and Footballers, John Mike, Paudie, Seamus and Mike McCarthy); John Cournane, Clonlara and formerly Rock Street (former Club Footballer and relative of the Fernane and Naughton families); Martha Carroll, Boston and formerly Kevin Barry’s Villas; Mary O’Brien, Spiddal and formerly Tralee; Seán ‘Hutchie’ Hutchinson, Rae Street and formerly Casement’s Avenue (former Club Footballer of the 1960s); Elizabeth (Betty) Lynch, Caherslee and formerly Lisloose (aunt of former Club Chairman, Liam and sister of the late John – former Club Vice Chairman); and Elizabeth (Betty) Harty (nee Kidd), Woodlands, Oakpark and formerly Ballyheigue.
